[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6606693,"mediaKeyId","2959689-25ec600cf8d7a10376aae2c82145a286","parentId",2959689,"title","Board reviews specialized high-school programs as teachers and parents warn against program erosion","audioSeconds",2360,"startMs",7656000,"endMs",10016000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2959689-25ec600cf8d7a10376aae2c82145a286&start=7656&end=10016","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2959689-25ec600cf8d7a10376aae2c82145a286/thumbnail_7656000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6606693/California/Board-reviews-specialized-high-school-programs-as-teachers-and-parents-warn-against-program-erosion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606693-e8829e30392203bbdc6a78c2327fdbd1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770971047&Signature=MB9nGkD~pcUeG37SePSURyU~kqKaMns3TunhpL24UEGPfiMxrEBAjAAsPzzsC3pvk~0pVP-GiAvuqW7~UVxvnpfgPQebTd-LVgBxb5tItc9-C13HWW0F6bKGw5UFt~2yTG-NPI-ELqwJ~UPho~j1watjUD0dzvPZTJPZg-aIqFz1ai2fsyJw0WBijfFmDq5HB8-8KS7bqcSUcVRRyW-twa5gH7I8~f8DNqgB~Mreij~0PQBUXn-riBETCAcgsvO8uu13gLJKcynxG0OydhKX9D4RnOhV~HwApPyma5TeLJnStwMjnf88bWPCDANB9YDu80s0WGMgYNpVP6nWfDCY~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-11T08:55:58.317Z","article","District staff gave the Board a high-level overview of specialized programs at Santa Rosa City Schools’ high schools at the April 9 meeting, while several public commenters urged preserving program integrity and course labels that attract interdistrict transfer students.

Staff presentation highlights
- Program inventory: Staff described ArtQuest (Santa Rosa High) as an arts-focused application program (about 356 students this year); Pioneer High’s Early College Magnet (ECM) that gives students college credit while in high school (about 412 students reported); Montgomery High’s International Baccalaureate (IB) offerings (about 633 students in IB courses this year); AVID implementation and growth; and LC Allen’s university-center program (about 85 students) that partners with Sonoma State University for dual-credit opportunities.
- CTE and SPARK: The district’s college-and-career readiness director reported 20 high-school CTE programs across industry sectors and noted targeted investments in education and health-care pathways. The SPARK center (Pioneer) and its STEM coordinator run planetarium shows, elementary field trips and community outreach; staff said the coordinator role splits program coordination and community-facing responsibilities.
- Dual enrollment/CCAP: The district reported progress in securing College and Career Access Pathway (CCAP) agreements with Santa Rosa Junior College and expects to expand dual-enrollment CTE courses next year pending SRJC faculty availability.

Public comment and concerns
Several public commenters raised alarms about perceived reductions in program staffing and course labeling: ArtQuest teacher and parent representatives said ArtQuest English sections and the ArtQuest coordinator position had been removed or reduced without consultation; a newly hired French teacher and a French program advocate asked the Board to allow the recently hired teacher to continue growing a small French program rather than eliminating it.

Board discussion and next steps
Board members asked staff to provide clearer inventories of course sections, coordinator roles and staffing allocations. Trustees suggested treating coordinator positions as strategic investments tied to program growth and outreach rather than year-by-year staffing that fluctuates with current enrollment. Staff agreed to supply program-level cost and staffing data so the Board can make informed, strategic decisions about program investments and thematic school identities.

Ending: Staff said it will return with more detailed program inventories, budget implications and recruitment/outreach plans; Board members signaled support for aligning program coordination with strategic growth goals rather than tying coordinators only to immediate enrollment counts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SRCS Regular Board Meeting - April 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","District staff described ArtQuest, International Baccalaureate, Early College Magnet and CTE offerings and discussed outreach, coordination and staffing; public commenters, including ArtQuest and French teachers, urged restoration of course labels and coordinator roles.","taxTitle","Santa Rosa Elementary, School Districts, California","taxId",49324,"location","California","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6606696,"District officials report English Learner Master Plan progress, cite assessment compliance issue at secondary level",150,7187000,7337000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2959689-25ec600cf8d7a10376aae2c82145a286&start=7187&end=7337","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2959689-25ec600cf8d7a10376aae2c82145a286/thumbnail_7187000.jpg","/articles/6606696/California/District-officials-report-English-Learner-Master-Plan-progress-cite-assessment-compliance-issue-at-secondary-level","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606696-04c213bb3fac393ba828fc7b200c9b69/orig.mp4?Expires=1770971047&Signature=J02nYM-47kht3VuLJOkNDhpbL0X-MkV2Sv4zN31mzcVc3KX6HHi5ScU~cYFxTCh2qYUl74vPxTN8oRJIjWv9JkO9Q6mGxYoY6nBNxClzWx44dDjh0XMA5WxQgrck4G-Vrz3ca3Mdpg1fdIYvqkCgdDFDSFWq3Hm9MyNuZcTp47KZljpYVMLThkRpdG1wKrJjcE-4HDfs3tIA2I-CslOCSvmGrOsysQY7fsrRQv6UXawJ13F3Yw90VHYKpcnmRbdraggJfKEGJnP1qDMuaLrTSPCmRsHJeyWEONdCKFX2MpOAB-NAUyltsfuTNFHYcT6LHa~cie1bbPPYxNM-9bUpVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Santa Rosa City Schools staff told the Board April 9 that the district has advanced elements of its English Learner (EL) Master Plan but remains out of compliance at the secondary level for a districtwide basic-skills assessment used for reclassification.

What staff reported
- Student counts: Director Eluvie Guiz Yamas said the district has 2,964 multilingual learners (MLs) this school year, about 22.1% classified as multilingual at the time of the referenced state data; roughly 1,487 students are being monitored after reclassification and 773 students are dually identified (multilingual learners who are also served by an IEP). About 397 students arrived from another country during the year; 60 transitional-kindergarten students were awaiting ELPAC screening.
- Reclassification and assessment: Yamas explained that reclassification requires an overall ELPAC score of 4 plus demonstration of basic skills via the CAASPP/Smarter Balanced assessment or a district-adopted local assessment. The district is currently using a locally normed assessment in K–6 (I‑Ready rolled out this year at elementary), but it has not yet adopted an equivalent district-wide assessment for grades 7–12; the older tool used at secondary (Let’s Go Learn) does not meet the district’s long-term needs. That gap leaves the district noncompliant with the corrective actions required by recent federal program monitoring at the secondary level.
- Staffing and funding history: Yamas said the district had budgeted six EL specialist positions through the Local Control and Accountability Plan in prior years; at the end of 2023–24 the department lost several team members and those positions have been eliminated in current staffing plans.
- Suggested next steps and tools: Staff recommended adoption of a single, districtwide assessment for grades 7–12 that meets state reclassification criteria and suggested piloting the recommended teacher observation protocol (Observation Protocol for Teachers of English Learners, OPTEL) to document teacher input for reclassification.

Why it matters: Reclassification procedures and reliable assessment are central to tracking progress for multilingual learners and for meeting state and federal monitoring requirements. The district’s reported shortfall at the secondary level could require corrective action plans and targeted funding to restore full compliance.

Board discussion and requests: Trustees asked for the EL department to provide a written summary of the numbers, historical trends and timelines for implementing a 7–12 assessment and for training on OPTEL; one trustee asked for targets on the proportion of general-education teachers trained in ELD strategies.

Ending: Yamas invited the public to the district’s reclassification celebration in May and reiterated that implementation requires district-wide responsibility across academic departments.","The district’s multilingual services director summarized implementation steps on the English Learner Master Plan, presented student counts and flagged the need for a district-wide secondary assessment for reclassification to meet federal monitoring requirements.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6606701,"Board hears detailed consolidation, transition update as community pushes for clarity",2282,4976000,7258000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2959689-25ec600cf8d7a10376aae2c82145a286&start=4976&end=7258","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2959689-25ec600cf8d7a10376aae2c82145a286/thumbnail_4976000.jpg","/articles/6606701/California/Board-hears-detailed-consolidation-transition-update-as-community-pushes-for-clarity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606701-c599733b53f2bcd3cdf264fb6ee5a32f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770971047&Signature=JPKOMNJsSRu0lfooeEAktxxcKZrYxjzTHyzWsCY6tLDXk5Ef6yJSkQJ~9LDBvce-IPy~L3KAjI4VoC4v6Ha8K-bDpxeX97VVc5A99FmlVyhn8fAsKqDPiebLANEwxscMkjSugnxtGQrAwloorpNP69o0C9tosJNbIAtXbhEkDYPYN-bxIVw-BBShPjbfAMEP3Z7DBNXpStokN6a1UoVdJBocTzh5HvJFCi6qNJ~ouxn6Abm8TxkrbLk1l3tglCrUQgPC-Iaaulgw6~PGu0ByCG880TzreqyQYdHSCd23Dy7aDC~OIVl0lAQ9lXc5gWCS8j9lGzQCwwVgdC1tPYcEZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff presented a multi-part update on school consolidation and transition planning at the April 9 Santa Rosa City Schools Board meeting, describing work by site “empower” teams, proposed junior–senior high models and operational steps intended to support students and families as campuses are merged.

Why it matters: The consolidation plan affects school boundaries, staffing, student placements and facilities projects across the district. Parents, teachers and staff used the meeting’s public-comment period to press the Board for clearer timelines, stronger communication and protections for students with special-education and 504 accommodations.

What staff told the Board
- Model and site planning: Staff described a junior/senior high approach for some campuses (a single campus that runs two programs with separate bell schedules), and consolidated elementary assignments at other sites. Empower teams — groups of site staff, parents and administrators — have met to align schedules, safety plans and shared programs. Montgomery and Slater Middle Schools, for example, agreed to keep separate bell schedules for seventh and eighth graders while planning some overlapping staff meetings so principals can coordinate.
- Key operational items: Teams identified priorities such as consistent behavioral expectations, continued use of the Minga app for electronic passes, training in AVID and IB where relevant, and day-to-day logistics such as lockers for seventh and eighth graders.
- Special-education and 504 continuity: Elementary teams have been preparing individual student handoff documentation and scheduling cross-site field trips to help students adjust. Staff said they are identifying quiet testing spaces and auxiliary rooms for related services as classrooms are reorganized.
- Enrollment and transfers: The district reported approximately 755 pending requests from families asking to attend schools outside the district (outgoing interdistrict requests) and about 84 incoming interdistrict requests to attend Santa Rosa City Schools (after correcting for many misfiled forms). Staff said roughly 27 parent appeals had been handled so far in the week, with more scheduled. The district explained interdistrict transfer criteria: 90% or better attendance, satisfactory academic progress (secondary: 2.0 GPA; elementary: meeting district-determined progress), and no suspensions/expulsions; schools may place families on improvement plans and withdraw permission if a student does not meet criteria.
- Facilities, timing and transitional services: Staff noted the need to coordinate with facilities for sinks, lunch areas, storage and play-structure work — including Department of State Architect (DSA) timelines for any conversion of middle-school spaces to elementary functions. The district plans parent tours of potential facilities that could house relocated charter programs and to compile updated FAQ resources on the transition website.

Community reaction at the meeting
Public comment was extensive and highly critical of recent administrative personnel changes and the pace of district communication. Dozens of speakers — teachers, parents and staff — described morale impacts from reassignments (name-checked principals and administrators at several schools) and raised concerns about the effect of pending classified and certificated layoffs on student supports such as counseling and restorative services. Several commenters called for greater transparency and more timely answers to previously submitted questions.

Two examples from public comment (paraphrased):
- Teachers at multiple sites warned that counselor and restorative-staff reductions would increase caseloads and reduce supports for students during campus transitions.
- Families urged the district to provide clearer, timetabled FAQs and evidence-based capacity numbers so they could make informed plans for enrollment and childcare.

What the Board asked for
Board members requested clearer data visualizations and timelines about transfers and capacity, and proposed targets for how many general-education teachers should receive English-Language-Development (ELD) strategies training. Trustees also asked staff to return with additional information about bathroom and other facilities capacities before major campus changes are finalized.

Ending: Staff said they will continue Empower-team meetings, produce slide decks and share updated data with the public and Board; several Trustees asked for follow-up reports on transfers, facilities milestones and special-education space needs.
","District staff presented an updated consolidation and transition plan that outlined junior/senior high configurations, elementary consolidations, bell schedules, safety and special-education continuity; the presentation drew extensive public comment raising concerns about administrator reassignments, staff layoffs and communication.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6606705,"Board approves expulsion, labor MOU and several consent items; adopts awareness resolution",6174,947000,7121000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2959689-25ec600cf8d7a10376aae2c82145a286&start=947&end=7121","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2959689-25ec600cf8d7a10376aae2c82145a286/thumbnail_947000.jpg","/articles/6606705/California/Board-approves-expulsion-labor-MOU-and-several-consent-items-adopts-awareness-resolution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606705-8504ca21759dcd4f0eaa66753672a35c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770971047&Signature=ds~pD1XV-mCEDaHz127nbVjNeS9Vblv~Z4qPPj7~b~m9a69tUWI-CS0X1ne8UlRgTZps3Qo6wlPrRw8FXPNAALq8~ETuDTCvyCYpXQs22Rb-QRloArGiDOf1NzV0skxour5z4H~trgBxMI3jU6C7mmH0a75lJr1mM3pRep1yGa4kfXQQBqMvpXQmq5xqZxYAHia1GYEFlFWD5BK8HPzkR1aB7ICjzsc0fEUMllLzNwca7XN5~8awPdv5U4jNzD7LoV44j4CW9BN5MOzKJ6UQBsOi~EZe3HfBPRg6t7F43HWITXNuJh78GspbWnutCbAZp25aFO0WvG2gAG3xlqRYqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Santa Rosa City Schools Board of Education approved a set of formal actions at its April 9 meeting, including one student expulsion, a memorandum of understanding with the chapter of the California School Employees Association (CSEA) covering classified layoffs and a resolution declaring April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

The Board voted to approve student expulsion case number 20242526 in open session after the item was brought out of closed session. Director De La Torre moved the motion; Director Casten seconded. The roll call vote recorded aye from Director De La Torre, Director Casten, Trustee Kirby, Trustee Jenkins and Vice President Stephanie Manieri.

The Board approved a settlement memorandum of understanding with CSEA (chapter 75, MOU #8 for the 2024–25 period) that details effects bargaining on classified layoffs, including continuation of employee health insurance through Sept. 30 for some affected employees while they seek alternate placement. Director Kasten moved the motion and Trustee Jenkins seconded; the measure passed on a roll call vote.

Trustees also adopted Resolution 2024-25-104 recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month after a brief amendment to correct the year cited in the resolution. Trustee Jenkins moved the resolution and Trustee Kirby seconded; the Board approved it by roll call vote.

Other approvals on the consent calendar and in routine business included multiple contract and budget items presented as grouped consent items, and the Board approved minutes of special and regular meetings held March 25 and March 26, 2025. Several individual consent items that had been pulled for separate consideration were discussed and approved by roll call.

The Board recorded its votes publicly on each motion during the meeting; transcripts show the roll-call votes and the names recorded on the official minutes.

Ending note: The meeting included multiple discussion items that did not result in final board action at this session, including ongoing work on school consolidation and transition planning, an update on specialized high school programs and a progress report on the district’s English Learner Master Plan.","At its April 9 meeting the Santa Rosa City Schools Board approved a student expulsion, ratified a classified-layoff memorandum of understanding and adopted a resolution recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Several consent items and minutes were also approved.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board reviews specialized high-school programs as teachers and parents warn against program erosion

District officials report English Learner Master Plan progress, cite assessment compliance issue at secondary level

Board hears detailed consolidation, transition update as community pushes for clarity

Board approves expulsion, labor MOU and several consent items; adopts awareness resolution